In a surprising pivot, embattled Florida Republican Matt Gaetz has launched a profile on the celebrity video platform Cameo, offering to create personalized fan videos for a hefty $500 fee. The move comes on the heels of Gaetz resigning from Congress last week and withdrawing his name from consideration for the U.S. Attorney General position, amid an ongoing House ethics investigation into allegations of misconduct.
From Capitol Hill to Cameo
Gaetz, once a rising star in the Republican party and staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has seen his political career unravel over the past year. In October 2023, he made headlines for orchestrating the historic removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—the first speaker ever ousted by their own party. Gaetz claimed it was over spending disagreements, but McCarthy alleged it was retaliation for not squashing the ethics probe into Gaetz’s conduct.
Now, the 41-year-old is seeking to reinvent himself on Cameo, a platform that allows fans to purchase video shout-outs and messages from their favorite celebrities. Gaetz’s Cameo page boldly proclaims: “I served in Congress. Trump nominated me to be US Attorney General (that didn’t work out). Once I fired the House speaker.”
Custom Gaetz Videos for Any Occasion
For the premium price of $500, Gaetz is offering to create videos marking special occasions like birthdays and holidays, give pep talks and advice, answer questions, or even “roast” someone. According to Cameo, requesters will “have the chance to customize” their video, encouraging Gaetz to “mention inside jokes, share words of wisdom, or work in [his] signature catchphrases.”
“Don’t be afraid to get creative with your request, especially for celebrations like weddings, retirements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties that call for a good laugh,” the site suggests.
Gaetz initially launched his Cameo account charging $250 per video, but quickly doubled the price to $500. As one social media user pointed out, this puts him in the same league as fellow scandal-plagued Republican George Santos, the serial fabulist and admitted fraudster who was expelled from Congress last year.
Other Disgraced Politicians on Cameo
Gaetz is hardly the first controversial political figure to seek a second act on Cameo. Others who have turned to the platform after scandals or legal troubles include:
- Rod Blagojevich – The former Illinois governor who was jailed for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat
- Rudy Giuliani – Ex-NYC mayor turned Trump attorney, now facing financial and legal woes
It remains to be seen how much demand there will be for $500 videos from the radioactive Gaetz. The Florida firebrand still has his share of fans on the far right, but many have been alienated by the scandal that derailed his once-promising career.
Ethics Probe and AG Nomination Debacle
Gaetz’s Cameo launch comes just over a week after he withdrew from consideration for U.S. Attorney General, a position for which former President Trump had surprisingly nominated him. The eight-day saga from nomination to withdrawal was a tumultuous capstone to Gaetz’s congressional tenure.
Central to Gaetz’s downfall was the House ethics investigation into allegations that he paid an underage girl for sex, among other misconduct claims. While Gaetz vehemently denied the accusations, the looming release of the committee’s findings spurred him to resign from Congress, preempting any potential expulsion.
As Gaetz tries to forge a new path outside the halls of power, it’s clear he aims to lean into his bombastic, polarizing persona—and potentially cash in on what remains of his MAGA star power. While a return to public office seems unlikely given the baggage he now carries, don’t expect the brash Floridian to shy away from the spotlight altogether.
Whether or not a $500 Matt Gaetz Cameo video becomes this year’s hot novelty gift remains to be seen. But by launching a Cameo account so soon after his spectacular flameout in Washington, Gaetz is signaling that he has no intention of skulking off quietly into the night.
